From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The dan(段 dan
?) ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in
traditional fine
arts and martial
arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period,[1]
this system was later applied to martial arts by Kano
Jigoro, the founder of judo
and later introduced to other East Asian countries.

The character of Dan(段,dan
?) is used in Japanese to mean step or
grade, and is commonly equated with degree. However, the origin of
the Chinese character, pronounced duán in modern Pinyin,
was used mean "phase". Dan rank is often used along with the lower
rank system, Kyū(級,Kyū
?) rank. There are other methods of
assessing rank in Japanese martial systems, of particular note is
the older, menkyo system.

Contents

History

The dan ranking system was invented by Honinbo Dosaku, professional go player
in the Edo period.[2] Prior
to the invention, top-to-bottom ranking was evaluated by each
handicaps and tended to be vague. He valued then highest title
holder, Meijin at 9 Dan.

Dan ranks were applied to martial arts by Kano Jigoro, the
founder of judo. Kano started the
modern rank system when he awarded shodan (the lowest dan rank) to two of his
senior students (Shiro Saigo and Tsunejiro Tomita) in 1883. Even
then, there was no external differentiation between
yūdansha (black belt ranks) and
mudansha (those who had not yet attained a grade). Kano
began the custom of having his yūdansha wear black
obi (belts) in 1886. These obi were not the belts
karateka and jūdōka wear today—Kano had not
invented the jūdōgi
(judo uniform) yet, and his students were still practicing in
kimono. They wore the wide obi still worn with formal
kimono. In 1907, Kano introduced the modern jūdōgi and its
modern obi, with white and black belt ranks.

The use of belts to denote ranks were used by different athletic
departments within the Japanese school system, most notably for
swimmers, prior to their adoption by Kano.

Modern usage
in Go

Traditionally, the level of players has been defined using
kyu and dan ranks. [3]
Kyu ranks are considered student ranks.[4]
Dan ranks are considered master ranks.[4]
Especially in amateur play, these ranks facilitate the handicapping system, with a difference of
one rank roughly corresponding to one free move at the beginning of
the game. With the ready availability of calculators and computers,
rating systems have been introduced. In such systems, a
rating is rigorously calculated on the basis of game results.

Dan (abbreviated online as "d") ranks are for advanced
amateur players. Although many organisations let players choose
their own kyu rank to a certain extent, dan ranks are often
regulated. This means that players will have to show good results
in tournaments or pass exams to be awarded a dan rank. Serious
students of the game will often strive to attain a dan rank. For
amateurs, dan ranks up to 7th dan are available, above this level,
a player must become a professional player to achieve further
promotions.

Although players that have achieved professional dan ranks are
nominally stronger than amateur dan players, in practice some of
the strongest 7th dan amateur players have a playing level on par
with that of some professional players.

Modern usage in martial
arts

While the use of the kyū/dan system, and colored belts is common
to both martial arts of direct Japanese or other east Asian origin,
and to arts that are derived from these, or from other areas, it is
not universal.

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In Japanese
arts

In modern times, a dan-ranked practitioner of a style is usually
recognized as a martial artist who has surpassed the kyū, or basic, ranks. They
may also become a licensed instructor in their art. In many styles,
however, achieving a dan rank means that while one is no longer
considered a beginner, one is not yet necessarily an expert. Rather
it means that one has learnt the basics.

The total number of dan ranks is style-specific (1st through 5th
and 1st through 10th are common in Japanese arts). The lower dan
grades can normally be attained through a grading examination or
sometimes through competition. The higher dan grades usually
require years of experience and contribution to the relevant
martial art. This may be through instruction or research and
publication. These grades can only be awarded by a higher-graded
representative of the principal dojo or sometimes by a steering committee. There
is no set achievement level that is universal. Ranking systems are
specific to the school or style, so ranks do not necessarily
translate across different martial arts styles. In fact, dan
ranks do not necessarily indicate one wears a black belt. In
certain martial arts such as iaidō, kendō or jōdō, no external signifier of rank is
worn, though it is by far the most common and recognizable symbol
by the general public.

The highest dan ranks are sometimes reserved for the founder or
leaders of a style and only high ranking students can be promoted
to them. This has led to upper level ranks becoming extinct in some
arts. For example, in judo there are only three living tenth-level
dans in the world and only fifteen have been promoted to the rank
since its inception.[5] In
other styles the dan ranks are not the highest level that might be
attained, with instructor certification and judge/judgment
authorization being understood as higher-level or more
sophisticated.

Ranks in
Japanese

Many arts use between one and ten dan ranks:

shodan (初段:しょだん): first degree black belt

nidan (二段:にだん): second degree black belt

sandan (三段:さんだん): third degree black belt

yondan (四段:よだん): fourth degree black belt

godan (五段:ごだん): fifth degree black belt

rokudan (六段:ろくだん): sixth degree black belt

shichidan (七段:ななだん): seventh degree black belt (also,
nanadan)

hachidan (八段:はちだん): eighth degree black belt

kyūdan (九段:きゅうだん): ninth degree black belt

jūdan (十段:じゅうだん): tenth degree black belt

In certain styles, shodan implies that all the basics
of the style have been mastered. At sandan the student is deemed
capable of teaching independently as a teacher or instructor, often
called sensei. At
Godan, the budōka may receive certification as a
master level practitioner (Shidōin). Generally, the lower dan ranks
are validated on the basis of knowledge and physical skill. The
higher the dan rank, the more leadership ability, teaching
experience, and service to the style play a role in promotion. For
example, in British judo, to gain
promotion from 1st to 5th Dan, judo players must demonstrate
theoretical technique and competitive skill in graded competitions.
Promotions from 6th to 10th Dan are awarded for services to the
sport of judo.

In Kendo the dan system was recently changed so that 8th dan is
the highest attainable rank. Unlike Judo, all dan promotion within
the ZNKR, IKF and its member countries is by examination. Whereas
dan grades are awarded for technical ability, there is a parallel
Shogo system awarding Renshi, Kyoshi, Hanshi, against suitability
as a role model to some members of the Kodansha ranks of 6th, 7th
and 8th dan. Renshi and Kyoshi are awarded on written examination
and Hanshi by election. There is some debate amongst non-Japanese
kendoka about the fairness of the Kyoshi test, which unlike the
equivalent for Renshi, must be written in Japanese.

Although the dan system is distinctly Japanese, it has been
adopted by many other martial arts styles. The dan system and the
well-known symbol of a black-belt have been absorbed into common
usage to represent a person with above-average or highly-trained
skills in a particular discipline. A unique variation is Okinawan
Isshinryu Karate. The oldest practitioners are Americans who have
taught thousands of people in the US since 1956. Consequently,
there are over 10 Isshinryu associations and several legitimate
10th dans in the Isshinryu system world wide- as many as 15 at last
count- all with 40- 50 years experience as instructors.

Chinese
arts

Since 1998 the Chinese Wushu Association together with
the National Sport Commission and the Chinese Wushu
Research Institute has established a graduation system based
on nine Duan levels:

Middle-level duans for wushu students who are able to teach and
have approximately 10 years wushu experience. Starting from 5th
Duan there has to be proof of a scientific work in wushu research,
i.e. publications.

For international standardization the Chinese Wushu Association
has decided to use the Japanese word Dan instead of the
Chinese Duan.

This graduation system is not totally new in Chinese wushu. In
older days there have been graduations as mentioned in the
Chinese Wushu-Encyclopedia (Zhongguo Wushu baike quanshu)
or later at the Emperor's court.

Korean
arts

Some Korean martial art schools use embroidered bars to denote
different dan ranks, as shown on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
dan belts above

Korean martial arts lacked a grading system up until the
Japanese occupation (1905–1945) during which a variety of Japanese
martial arts were introduced in the Korean school system, most
notably judo and kendo. After the occupation, newly emerging
martial arts like taekwondo, Soo Bahk Do and hapkido continued using the dan (단) and
geup (급) ranks. The dan rank system is also used by baduk players. Nowadays also the Korea
Taekkyon Association issues dan ranks to taekkyeon practitioners.

Someone who has received a dan rank is called a yudanja
(유단자).

In some Korean schools, most notably in Kukkiwon taekwondo, there is also a
pum (품) system in place. Practitioners who have not
reached the age of 16 yet, can not test for a dan rank. For them
there is a system of four pum grades. After they reach the
age of 15.5 their pum-grade can be changed to the
corresponding dan-grade, although some organisations require the
practitioner to take an additional exam. In Kukkiwon taekwondo one
can test for pum-grades until the age of 18. Usually the
belt worn by pum holders is a bi-color red and black
belt.

Ranks in
Korean

When numbering the dan ranks, Sino-Korean numbers are used.
Common names for the dan ranks are thus:

Usually the dan ranks do not go past ninth dan, although on some
occasions in some organizations a tenth dan (십단) has been issued.
According to Kukkiwon,
they have only ever issued five official 10th Dan to deceased
people, and one living person, (Un Yong Kim) who were considered to
have made a great contribution to Tae kwon do.